It's hard not to like a movie with either Steve Carell or Paul Rudd. You put them together and it is not only hilarious but charming and heartwarming. Now don't get me wrong - this movie is NOT as funny as Role Models or The Hangover but it is funny.
The title says it all, referring to the type of dinner Paul Rudd's character is asked to attend if he wants the big promotion he's been after. The task is simple; invite an idiot and the bigger idiot he/she is, the better. Rudd's character Tim starts off not wanting to oblige due to the morality of it all (and the nagging of his girlfriend Julie) but then feels like it is destiny when he almost runs over Barry (Steve Carell) with his car. Barry it turns out is a perfect Schmuck - he doesn't know he's an idiot, he's is eager to be friends with Tim and attend and he has a strange hobby; making diorama's of classic scenes with dead, stuffed mice! Barry was in fact trying to save a dead mouse when Tim almost ran him over.
There is a very familiar Oscar and Felix vibe going on in the movie where you can't help but love Carells, blissfully naive Barry and want him to be liked. That was when I realized that the movie had worked, I cared about Barry and what happened to him.
The minor supporting characters make this movie, Jemaine Clement as a self-important new age artist in love with himself and his likeness in ALL his art (this Russell Brand in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall") and Zach Galifianakis from "The Hangover" as Barry's co-worker at the IRS who's talent is controlling minds and eating Barry's pudding (don't ask, it would give away to much to say).
The bottom line is you'll laugh, but not so hard you cry. **2 1/2 out of 4 stars
The title says it all, referring to the type of dinner Paul Rudd's character is asked to attend if he wants the big promotion he's been after. The task is simple; invite an idiot and the bigger idiot he/she is, the better. Rudd's character Tim starts off not wanting to oblige due to the morality of it all (and the nagging of his girlfriend Julie) but then feels like it is destiny when he almost runs over Barry (Steve Carell) with his car. Barry it turns out is a perfect Schmuck - he doesn't know he's an idiot, he's is eager to be friends with Tim and attend and he has a strange hobby; making diorama's of classic scenes with dead, stuffed mice! Barry was in fact trying to save a dead mouse when Tim almost ran him over.
There is a very familiar Oscar and Felix vibe going on in the movie where you can't help but love Carells, blissfully naive Barry and want him to be liked. That was when I realized that the movie had worked, I cared about Barry and what happened to him.
The minor supporting characters make this movie, Jemaine Clement as a self-important new age artist in love with himself and his likeness in ALL his art (this Russell Brand in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall") and Zach Galifianakis from "The Hangover" as Barry's co-worker at the IRS who's talent is controlling minds and eating Barry's pudding (don't ask, it would give away to much to say).
The bottom line is you'll laugh, but not so hard you cry. **2 1/2 out of 4 stars
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